Football and rugby stadiums are places of passion, excitement, and community. Well, they are if your team is on a winning streak.
Yet, for many fans, especially those with hearing impairments, the experience can be marred by unclear announcements and inaccessible information. And this is where Auracast can be transformative when it comes to attending a game at a stadium.
As someone who regularly travels across England to follow the fortunes of League Two football club Gillingham (aka The Mighty Gills), I’ve seen my fair share of stadiums. While some of them are relatively new builds, others date back to the earliest days of the beautiful game itself.
And others still… Even with our long-standing rivalry, I’m in no rush to revisit Swindon. I write that now, knowing that on New Year’s Day, I will be seeing in 2026 in one of my least favourite stadiums.
But as someone who is deaf, every new stadium brings with it a new set of anxieties.
Quite simply, the question I have is “Will I hear?”
Here is something I find hard to admit. My hearing aids are excellent, but I just can’t make out any of the chants. Some might say that given the healthy dose of Anglo-Saxon in use, that’s a good thing, but it means part of the matchday experience is denied to me, especially when those chants are witty and spontaneous.
It’s not just the chants, it’s the Tannoy announcements too.
The sound of silence: challenges in modern stadiums
Football is an organic thing, and the crowd’s energy is palpable, giving the players on the pitch a boost as we roar our support (Gilligham is massive, everywhere we go). But when it comes for those stadium announcements – be it team line-ups, safety instructions, man of the matches, or goal updates – the sound system is just not up to it.
Crackly speakers are usually positioned high above the stands, and they struggle to give fans clear audio, leaving many in the dark.
Auracast, the new Bluetooth LE Audio-based broadcast technology, addresses this issue by enabling the direct streaming of audio to compatible hearing aids, cochlear implants, or headphones or earbuds.
And it works outdoors. In fact, its range outdoors is impressive, with around 100 metres expected. That means only a handful of Auracast transmitters in weatherproof boxes would be needed to give coverage to all parts of a stadium.
We’ve seen a similar set-up in place at Bristol Temple Meads railway station.
Once in place, fans can receive crystal-clear audio tailored to their needs, enhancing their overall matchday experience. Depending on the system, that could mean receiving just the match day announcements, hearing the commentary teams and, for away fans, the opportunity to listen to commentary from their perspective.
For those with visual impairments, an enhanced audio commentary will help them follow the action far more than a radio commentary could. That makes it a level playing field.
This isn’t a dream … Auracast is in stadiums, just Down Under
Stadium Taranaki in New Plymouth, New Zealand is home to the Taranaki Rugby Football Union, aka The Bulls.
Later this month, they will be opening their doors to allow people to try out Auracast for themselves. A system has been installed in its TSB Stand, and is being used for official announcements.
The aim is to improve accessibility for those attending games and events, including people with hearing impairments, and part of an upgrade to the stand, which looks very impressive with its curved roof structure.
The whole stadium setas 21,000 people and staged three Rugby World Cup games in 2011, and hosted Under 20 FIFA World Cup games in 2015. It is operated by NPDC and owned by Taranaki Regional Council.
Mike Neild is the council’s Director of Corporate Services was among the first to try the Auracast system out.
“The upgraded stadium is an amazing facility, and we want it to be used by everyone in the community which is why we’ve made improvements such as the Auracast system to make it a more inclusive and welcoming arena,” he said.
This view is echoed by NPDC Stadium Taranaki Lead, Jonnie Orrell, who said the Auracast system is being offered as a free-to-use service, as long as spectators have Auracast Assistants and compatible hearing devices.
“While this makes events at Stadium Taranaki much more accessible for the hearing-impaired, it’s important to remember that most people have a problem hearing at some time, whether you’re sitting in a noisy crowd cheering on the Bulls or at the back of the room at a private function,” she added.
“Auracast streams the venue audio, including official announcements, straight to your earphones or headset and cuts out the background noise.”
The demonstration event is from 1.30pm to 3.30pm New Zealand Standard Time on Sunday, 14 September.
For more on the Taranaki Bulls, log on to: https://www.trfu.co.nz/
Sport is a universal language, but not everyone can hear it the same way
For fans with hearing impairments, traditional stadium audio systems often fall short. Auracast bridges this gap, ensuring that every spectator, regardless of their hearing ability, can enjoy the match to its fullest.
By adopting Auracast, stadiums can foster an inclusive environment where all fans feel valued and engaged. It’s not just about hearing the game; it’s about being part of the experience.
The integration of Auracast into sporting arenas won’t just a technological upgrade; it’s a step towards a more inclusive and enjoyable fan experience. Embracing such innovations will ensure that the beautiful games played on pitches the world over will be accessible to all.
